It is official, Andrew Wilcox has announced in a tweet that this year’s Shed of the Year is officially launched next week and some more #shedlove!

This unique competition sponsored by Cuprinol will now be on its tenth year. Submissions were opened 22nd December last year.

Every year Shed of the Year is getting bigger and better according to Andrew Wilcox. Last year’s record breaking 2,520 entries, most entries since its conception, shows that statement to be both true and even prophetic. The number of entries last year was a huge jump from a handful of entries in 2007 that was won by sheddie Tony with his Roman inspired shed, something that he built after admiring a ruined temple at the Chelsea Flower show.

Thousands of old-time and newbie sheddies should be excited to get in the competition as it opens again this year with categories for every garden shed possible.

There are eight shed categories that a sheddie can join in. This year’s categories are “unexpected” which replaced the “normal” category where what’s inside the shed will be the last thing you would expect to find, eco, cabin/summerhouse, workshop/studios where the category garden office was merged in, unique shed which include the Tardis category for the Dr. Who fanatics, historic, budget, both categories were introduced last year and finally the pub which is extended to pub & entertainment so that the whole family can join in the fun.

The winner will be awarded £1000 in cash and £100 worth of Cuprinol products along with a wooden trophy that the winner can display in their shed. Now that’s something that you can brag about to your guests and visitors.

The variety of entries are so diverse and the judges are given a run for their money as every year, the competition gets stiffer. Last year, a pixie, a pirate, chopper, starliner diner, an owl house, an eco dome, WW2 gun turrets, a train, tree house, railway city, observatory and a boat all got in the competition and were shortlisted to be finalists. In the end, Walter Micklethwait from Aviemore in Scotland took home the beacon and the prize as he and his Inshriach Distillery won the favor of the people and the judges and was crowned Shed of the Year for 2015.

Looking at the diversity of the theme of these garden sheds, it shows that anyone with the creativity (or the quirkiness) to make something eye catching to something bizarre can get a chance to be shortlisted in the competition.

There is also no discrimination on what material you are using. If you’re using upcycled materials, the judges are readily amazed at the innovation because upcycling is a great way to showcase the sheddie’s creativity whilst showing concern for the environment.

It is good to note that majority of the winners including last year’s winner used upcycled materials which added to the overall appeal of the shed that they built. Maybe that is something that an aspiring Shed of the Year winner should look out for.

But of course, using upcycled materials is not all that is needed to win in the competition. There are other factors that may contribute to your victory. We never know what the determining factor this year will be, it could be anything, really. But most of all, the sheddie must showcase that British passion for wooden sheds.

The garden shed has been innovated. From a four-walled dark room, it has evolved into all shapes and sizes and the contents inside developed as well from garden tools to the most interesting of all interests and hobbies. So be as quirky, wild, bizarre, surprising, unique, and creative as you can with your shed and let the inner sheddie out!